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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 3, 2021 21:41:35 GMT -5
Just a couple of thoughts on Workman.
Philly-Thru 8 games 3.86 Philly last 3.2 IPs 14.73 Cubs-Thru 8 games 2.84 Cubs final 2 IPs 21.60
I assume these people know what they are doing, but Workman doesn't have a ton of bad games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 3, 2021 22:08:23 GMT -5
Martín Pérez throws 7⅔ shutout innings as Red Sox hold off Astros with 5-1 victory By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated June 3, 2021, 5:22 p.m.
The Red Sox’ bats were lodged in the mud.
In their three previous losses to the Astros, the Red Sox possessed just a .173 batting average, striking out 31.4 percent of time. The collective funk resulted in just four runs over that three-game span.
But in the top of the second inning Thursday, the Sox found some life when Christian Arroyo pulled a Jake Odorizzi cutter for a three-run homer on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.
“It was actually a really good at-bat,” manager Alex Cora said afterward. “You could feel it in the dugout, kind of like we were able to breathe. It’s not that we were putting pressure on ourselves, but we saw what happened the first three days.”
It was Arroyo’s first homer of the season and helped lead the Red Sox to a 5-1 victory, avoiding the four-game sweep.
“It’s always nice to get the first one out of the way,” Arroyo said. “I just wanted to go in there. Tough series here in Houston, offense might not have been doing exactly what we’re capable of doing. We know we’re a good group, though. I just want to get in there and battle.”
Xander Bogaerts snapped a six-game hitless skid when his double in the seventh scored two Sox runs.
The Red Sox’ struggles in their three previous games were a combination of getting outside of their approach, coupled with good pitching. The Astros had the book on Rafael Devers, pounding him with fastballs, a weakness for Devers this season. They lacked production from the heart of the order with the Nos. 2-5 spots combining for just a .152 batting average and seven hits after carrying much of the load for a large chunk of the season.
“We faced some good pitching,” hitting coach Tim Hyers said. “That’s part of it. That’s a part of this league. Obviously, there are things we have to do better. We’ve got to control our swing habits, we’ve got to control the strike zone and keep the line moving.”
Entering Thursday, the Red Sox had just a 7.1 percent walk rate, tying the Angels for the lowest walk rate in baseball. It was also the Sox’ lowest walk rate since 2012. Yet in their series finale vs. the Astros, the Sox negotiated seven walks. The Nos. 2-5 spots in the order also came through. Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez, Bogaerts, and Devers combined for six hits on the day, with both Bogaerts and Martinez each having two.
“It was all around good baseball,” Cora said. “Very solid. And for how bad it was the first three days, we can take this and have a happy flight and be ready for tomorrow.”
Martín Pérez turned in arguably his best performance as a Red Sox by tossing 7⅔ shutout innings. Pérez continues what has been a stellar season. He now owns a 3.09 ERA in 11 starts and in his last seven appearances, Pérez possesses a 1.98 ERA. Pérez had just four strikeouts, but was effective and efficient.
“I just want to go out there and compete, man,” Pérez said. “And pitch for contact. I know these guys are aggressive. I was just trying to make quality pitches and get out of the innings quickly.”
The Red Sox (32-23) are two games behind the first-place Rays in the American League East race. The Sox now turn the page to a three-game set against the Yankees (31-26), a team that has underperformed to this point, beginning Friday in New York. Despite the Yankees’ underwhelming play, the Sox know New York won’t be an easy out.
“They have a good team. We have a good team,” Cora said. “I don’t think too many people thought that we were going to be in this position. But we are in now. We’ve got to be ready for a fun weekend.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 4, 2021 3:02:01 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 10h Red Sox’ last 3 starts:
Garrett Richards – 6.0 IP, 2 ER Nick Pivetta – 6.0 IP, 2 ER Martín Pérez – 7.2 IP, 0 ER
Boston’s starters have been incredibly consistent all year. You could argue their only "slump" of the season came in the White Sox series from Apr. 17-19.
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